2012 Earth Day Survey

1. Is U.S. population growth causing the country to use up its natural resources too fast?

Is U.S. population growth causing the country to use up its natural resources too fast? Yes

No

Unsure

2. U.S. population has grown from 200 million in 1970 to over 300 million today. In terms of the environment, has adding the extra 100 million people damaged, improved or made no difference in environmental quality, open spaces and wildlife?

U.S. population has grown from 200 million in 1970 to over 300 million today. In terms of the environment, has adding the extra 100 million people damaged, improved or made no difference in environmental quality, open spaces and wildlife? Damaged the environment

Improved the environment

Made no difference

Unsure

3. Would adding another 100 million to our population be too much, too little or about right?

Would adding another 100 million to our population be too much, too little or about right? Too much

Too little

About right

Unsure

4. The Census Bureau says the population of the United States is on a trend to double this century. If the population in YOUR AREA were to double, what would it do to the quality of life?

The Census Bureau says the population of the United States is on a trend to double this century. If the population in YOUR AREA were to double, what would it do to the quality of life? Make it a lot worse

Make it somewhat worse

Make no difference

Make it somewhat better

Make it a lot better

Unsure

5. Over the next century, would you prefer the nation’s population to stay about the same around 312 million, slowly become smaller, or continue to grow by half to 450 million, double to 600 million, or more than double the nation’s population to above 600 million.

Over the next century, would you prefer the nation’s population to stay about the same around 312 million, slowly become smaller, or continue to grow by half to 450 million, double to 600 million, or more than double the nation’s population to above 600 million. Prefer population stay about the same around 312 million

Prefer slowly getting smaller to the 250 million of 1990

Prefer slowly getting smaller to the 200 million of 1970

Prefer growing by half to 450 million

Prefer doubling to 600 million

Prefer more than doubling to more than 600 million

Unsure

6. Should the government try to do anything to slow down population growth in the United States?

Should the government try to do anything to slow down population growth in the United States? Yes

No

Unsure

7. Census data show that since 1972, the size of American families has been at a zero-population-growth level. But immigration has tripled and is now the cause of nearly all long-term population growth. Does the government need to reduce immigration to slow down population growth, or keep it the same or increase it?

Census data show that since 1972, the size of American families has been at a zero-population-growth level. But immigration has tripled and is now the cause of nearly all long-term population growth. Does the government need to reduce immigration to slow down population growth, or keep it the same or increase it? Reduce immigration to slow population growth

Keep immigration same and double population

Increase immigration to more than double population

Unsure

8. Current levels of immigration could continue without causing population growth if Americans would cut their average family size from two children to one. Should Americans cut their family size to accommodate present levels of immigration?

Current levels of immigration could continue without causing population growth if Americans would cut their average family size from two children to one. Should Americans cut their family size to accommodate present levels of immigration? Yes

No

Unsure

9. What is the ideal number of children a family should have?

What is the ideal number of children a family should have? None

1

2

3 or more

Unsure

10. Would you be concerned if the population growth of the United States slowed down and gradually leveled off?

Would you be concerned if the population growth of the United States slowed down and gradually leveled off? Yes

No

Unsure

DALLAS (April 20, 2012) – Forty years after a multi-year bi-partisan government commission recommended slowing U.S. population growth and eventually stabilizing, Americans still would like to see it happen, according to poll results to be released this weekend at the 2012 Earth Day Dallas festival.